Roy Martinez

ROY MARTINEZ

SEPTEMBER 2, 1942 – SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

We Love You, We Miss You, Forever in our Hearts

ROY MARTINEZ at the age of 81 was called to his celestial home in Albuquerque, NM .  A rare type of cancer shortened his life with us.  Our Lord heard our prayers and relieved him of prolonged suffering.

He was born to Alfonso (Choncho) and Rosa Martinez in Cebolla, NM. He was fortunate to have great-aunts who helped raise and spoil him- Mona, Clarita, and Magdalena Lohman.

In June 8,1963, Roy married Mary Louise Delgado. There were blessed with three children, Roberta and twin boys Roy Gregory and Roy Jeffrey. On June 8, 2023, their 60^th anniversary, they renewed their vows at El Santuario de Chimayo.

Roy loved his family. and was very proud of their accomplishments. Pampa’s eight grandchildren and two great- grandchildren were his greatest joy.  He made friends that lasted a lifetime.  Many young kids enjoyed hanging around him, learning how to rope.

Roy ran a cattle operation on his Circle M Bar Ranch in Cebolla and Ensenada.  He worked on the construction of Heron Dam. He was a YCC Project Manager in the construction of the stairway and hiking trail at Heron. He worked for local, state and federal agencies.  He retired from the Bureau of Reclamation.

After retirement, he and Mary Louise visited many of the National and State Parks in the US and Canada.

He enjoyed rodeos as a contestant in team roping, competed in many jackpot ropings and rodeos in New Mexico, Texas and Colorado during his younger years. As a spectator, he attended many of the big- time rodeos like; Calgary, Pendleton, Reno, Omak Suicide Races, Denver and Cheyenne   and others for many years.   He loved good horses and owned several through the years. Roy and Mary Louise attended 23 PBR events in Las Vegas, Nevada.  They had the same seats for 20 years at the Thomas and Mack until it was moved to T-Mobile Arena. They traveled to Chihuahua, Mexico to attend a PBR event. He attended his first Bob Feist Roping in California then followed the event to Las Vegas and Reno. He attended most of the World Series of Team Roping in Las Vegas and was looking forward to this December for the World Series of Team Roping Finals and National Finals Rodeo.

Roy disliked flying and only flew twice, to a Bob Feist Roping in California and the first National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.  He vowed never to fly again.  On September 14^th he took his last flight by medical helicopter to Rust Medical Center in Rio Rancho.

Roy is survived by wife, Mary Louise; children:  Roberta (Patrick) Tarin, Greg (Shelley), Jeff (Kathy); Grandchildren: Jessica (Dominic) Villareal, Katherine Tarin, Jason (Amanda) Tarin, Caitlyn (John) Flint, Alexis and Bryan Martinez, Angela and Selina Martinez; great-grandchildren Sofia and Nico Villareal.

Sister Betty (Seledon) Ulibarri; Godchild Desiree Candelaria; Sister-in-law, Irene (Ben) Maestas, and Pearl Delgado; Brothers-in-law, Felix (Maria) Delgado and Sammy (Linn) Delgado.

He was preceded in death by his parents Choncho and Rosa Martinez; Hermanitas Lohman; father and mother-in-law Louis and Mary Delgado; Brother Alfonso, Sisters and brothers-in-law, Barbara (Vita) and Don Messer, Rose and Robert Martinez, Cristobal Delgado and Gloria Flowers; Niece Angela Ulibarri and Nephews Roman Martinez and Luis Delgado.

Urn Bearers are the grandchildren.

COURTESY ANNOUNCEMENT